Barcelona rule out Neymar to focus on Messi and Lautaro

Barca have taken a difficult decision: rule out Neymar. That is what 'Catalunya Radio' are saying. The reason is that the club are prioritising signing Lautaro Martinez and getting Messi to sign a new deal. Another important reason is the coronavirus crisis.

The pandemic is hitting the club's coffers hard. There is not the money for so many purchases so measures have to be taken and the Catalan giants have to decide which things are most important. For Barca, the most important things are a new striker and the captain to extend his contract.

The return of the Brazilian seems too expensive and that has caused the board to take this course of action. The radio station also mentions that the price for the PSG striker is 170 million euros. An amount of money which the club cannot afford to pay at this moment in time. 

Lautaro Martinez is not much cheaper, but the 111 million euros of his buyout clause could be paid in another way. The La Liga are thinking of including some of their footballers in the deal in part-exchange. They will have to be top footballers for Inter to accept less money.

Apart from signing the Argentine striker for Inter Milan, the Catalans want to renew two of their players. The main one is Lionel Messi. His contract expires in 2022 although he can terminate at the end of any season. The other is that of Ter Stegen who is asking for a lot in his new contract.

Neymar, Lautaro, Messi, Ter Stegen... Barca do not have the money for all of them so they have had to make this decision. The PSG star will not be able to return to Barcelona for now. Getting a subsitute for Luis Suarez and keeping the rest of the members of the squad is the most important thing for now.